Boat loader



Feb; 17, 1970 A. H. KRUSE 3,495,729

BOAT LOADER Filed Feb. 1. 1968 v 3 sheets-Sheet 1 AkrHuR h- MPOs:

ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1970 A. H. KRUSE I 3,495,729

BOAT LOADER Filed Feb. 1, I968 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR ff KRUsE Feb. 17, 1970 A. H. KRUSE 3,495,729 I BOAT LoADER Filed Feb. 1, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F76. f I INVENTOR ARrm/fi f2! Km/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 11.5. Cl. 214-450 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention discloses a vehicle top boat loader including a fixed frame adapted to be secured to the vehicle top, a movable frame slidably and pivotally supported by said fixed frame and parallel arms hinged at one end to said movable frame on aligned pivots. Means are provided on said arms for connection with the gunwales of a boat. A cable is connected to the free end of each arm, extends about pulleys on the side of said movable frame opposite that to which the arm are pivoted; across said movable frame and about pulleys on the side of the frame to which said arms are hinged about pulleys on the side of said fixed frame about which said movable frame pivots, across said fixed frame to winch means. Said cables act to pivot said arms and the boat secured thereto against said movable frame to move said movable frame upwardly until the movable frame pivots upon said fixed frame, and to move said movable frame into centered relation on said fixed frame.

This invention relates to an improvement in boat loader and deals particularly with an effective apparatus for loading a boat onto the top of a car or similar vehicle.

Cartop carriers for boats have been produced in considerable volume. One such device which has been sold extensively comprises an upright standard or mast secured to the rear bumper and including a clamp designed to attach to the transom of the boat. When the rear end of the boat is attached 0 the elevated clamp, the forward end of the boat may be swung upwardly and forwardly to place the boat on a rack upon the top of the car. This type of device has the advantage of simplicity, but also has the decided disadvantage that it is not particularly applicable to heavy boats. It is virtually impossible or at least very difiicult for a single person to lift the rear end of a boat to the height necessary to attach it to the transom bracket. A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a boat loader which obviates the necessity of manually lifting the boat, and which is capable of locating the boat on the top of the car with a minimum of difficulty.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a boat loader including a pair of racks which extend transversely of the car on the roof thereof, and which slidably support a pair of frame members which may be moved transversely of the top supporting bracket and also tilted relative thereto. A pair of arms are pivotally connected to these frame members, and means is provided for attaching these arms extending across the opposite sides of a boat along the upper surface of the boat. These arms are designed to unfold to overlie the upper surface of the boat while the boat is resting upon the ground on its keel or floating in the water. Clamping means are provided for attaching the upper surface of the boat to the arms. Cable means are provided for operating the arms and the frame members, and a winch is provided for operating the cable. The cable arrangement is such that upon operation of the winch, the boat is lifted from the ground, and pivotally carried by the arms through an angle of somewhat more than ninety 3,495,729 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 ice degrees until the arms rest upon the frame members. The frame members are, at this time, included downwardly and outwardly from the top of the car. Further operation of the winch causes the frame members to slide upwardly relative to the cartop carrying racks or brackets until the center of gravity of the frame members, arms and boat is inwardly of the ends of the supporting brackets. The frame members and the arms and boat resting thereupon then tilt downwardly onto the cartop carriers, and further operation of the winch acts to move the frame members until the boat is centered relative to the car. The entire movement of the boat from its position resting on its keel on the ground and to its position resting in inverted position on the top of the car may be accomplished by continuous winding of the winch, the cables automatically operating the arms, the frame members, and the boat supported thereby in the manner which has been described.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a structure which may be used to readily unload the boat from the top of the car. By unwinding the cable from the winch, the frame members which support the arm and the boat may be moved laterally along the car top carriers until the center of gravity is outside the pivot point connecting the frames to the cartop carriers. The frame members then pivot down at an angle of less than ninety degrees so that the frame members slope downwardly and outwardly from the cartop carriers. By unwinding the winch, the frame members may be lowered to their lowest position. Further unwinding of the winch provides suflicient slack in the cable so that the boat may be tilted until the center of gravity of the boat and its supporting arms are outwardly of the arm pivots. Further unwinding of the winch then permits the boat to be gently pivoted down until the keel rests upon the ground. The arms may then be disconnected from the boat, and the boat is in readiness for use.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel and practical way of maintaining equal tension to the arms which are attached to the boat. It should be understood that when the arms are first attached to the boat, one arm might be slightly above or below the other depending upon the level of the boat to which the arms are attached. This fact, together with the fact that the cables are wound upon separate drums and might tend to wind faster on one than the other due to the portion of the cable wound upon the drum, there may be a tendency for one cable to be tighter than the other. In order to equalize the pull upon the cables, the winch is slidably supported for movement on the frame brace 16 along which the end portions of the cable extend. In the event one cable becomes a little tighter than the other, the winch merely slides longitudinally of the car until the strain on both of the cables is equalized.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a boat in inverted position on the cartop carrier.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the cartop carrier in lowered position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective detail showing the winch slidably supported upon the frame.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of a portion of the frame showing the location of the winch relative to the guide pulleys for the cables.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective detail of the means in which the boat-supporting arms are connected for movement in unison.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the cartop carrier with the boat in an intermediate position.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the boat loader in folded position.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the boat clamps.

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the fixed frame of the apparatus, showing the movable frame and arm in vertical section.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view showing a pivotal connection between the movable frame and the boatsupporting arms.

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic rear elevational view showing the boat loader in lowered position.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of the cables when the boat is in the position indicated in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic rear elevational view of the vehicle and the boat when in an intermediate position.

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic view of the position of the cables when the boat is in the position shown in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic rear elevational view of the vehicle, boat loader and boat just before the boat tilts into completely inverted position.

FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of the cables when the boat is in the position indicated in FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic rear elevational view of the vehicle, boat loader and boat with the boat approaching its final centered position on the vehicle.

The boat loader is indicated in general by the letter A, and is designed to be mounted upon the top of an automobile which is indicated in general by the letter B. The car B is shown as including a pair of longitudinally spaced cartop carrier elements which are indicated in general by the numeral 10 and include cross-members 11 and fastening devices 12 adapted to be attached to the drip or drain troughs on the sides of the vehicle top above the doors. The cross-members of the frame are attached to the cross-members 11 of the cartop carrier in any suitable manner, such as by Welding, bolts, or other suitable means. The cartop carriers have been omitted in FIGURE 2 of the drawings in order to simplify the showing and to better illustrate the construction of the present device.

The apparatus includes a fixed frame which is indicated in general by the numeral 13, and which includes a pair of transversely extending frame members 14 which are usually hollow rectangular tubing for the purpose of.

strength. The frame members 14 are connected by longitudinally extending frame members 15 designed to be positioned near one side of the vehicle, and a frame member 16 designed to connect frame members 14 near the opposite side of the vehicle. The frame members 15 and 16 may be welded or otherwise secured to the parallel longitudinally spaced frame members 14.

A movable frame which is indicated in general by the numeral 17 is pivotally and slidably supported by each frame member 14. Each frame 17 includes a pair of spaced parallel rectangular tubular frame members 19 and 20 which are connected by connecting members such as 21 and which are held in parallel spaced relation by cross-braces 18 and 28. As indicated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings, the frame 17 is comprised of the members 19 and 20 which are of hollow rectangular tubular form in the same manner as the frame members 14. A pair of rollers 22 are mounted upon a transverse shaft 23 near the end of each cross-member 14 most closely adjacent to the cross-brace 15. The frame members 19 and 20 rest upon the rollers 22 and are thus supported for movement longitudinally of the frame members 14 or transversely of the vehicle. One shaft 23 extends through each frame member 14 and the ends of the shaft 23 extend through opposite sides 24 of a generally U-shaped strap loop 25, the lower ends of the loop sides 24 being connected by a cross-connecting member 26. The upper end of the U-shaped strap loop 25 is provided with inturned flanges 27 which extend over the frame members 19 and 20 to hold the frame 17 in proper relation to the frame side 14 and rollers 22. A trapezoidal bracket 29 is secured to each of the boat-supporting arms 30' and bridges the ends of the frame members 19 and 20 to serve as a rest for the boat-supporting arms 30, which will be later described in detail.

A boat-supporting arm 30 is pivotally supported between the frame members 19 and 20 of each frame 27, the pivot bolts 31 pivotally supporting the arms 30 being in alignment. In order to provide a certain degree of flexibility in the location of the arms 30, the cross-connecting brace 32 extending between the two arms 30 is pivotally attached to the arms in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 5 of the drawings. Each arm 30 is provided with a pair of spaced cars 33 extending toward the opposite arm, and a pivot bolt 34 extends through the ears 33 and through the cross-brace 32 to pivotally connect the crossbrace to the arms. This arrangement is provided so that one of the arms 30 may be slightly above or slightly below the position of the other arm when the arm is in boat-engaging position.

The ends of the arms 30 which are pivotally connected at 31 to the frames 17 are usually bent angularly up- Wardly as indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the inclined ends being indicated in general by the numeral 35. Clamping means are provided for attaching each arm 30 designed for attachment to the gunwale or marginal edge of the boat. As example, FIGURE 8 of the drawings includes an angle bracket 36 including a U-bolt 37 extending through one side 39 thereof and anchored by means of nuts 40. The U-shaped bolt 37 is designed to encircle an arm 30 and to hold the angle bracket 36 in adjusted relation thereto. The right angular side 41 of the angle bracket 36 is provided with a transversely elon gated slot 42 therein which is designed to engage a clamping member 43 (see FIGURE 7). The clamping member 43 is provided with an angularly turned end extremity 44 which is designed to clamp upon a portion of the marginal edge of the boat. The clamp 43 is tightened by means of a hand screw 45 having an end 46 which can bear against the crossbar 30. Obviously other types of clamping means may be required for different forms of boats, it being merely important that the edge of the boat is securely anchored to the arm 30. As indicated in FIG- URE 7, both sides of the boat are secured, and, as is indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, both of the arms 30 are attached to the boat while the boat is resting upon its keel or floating on the Water.

A first set of pulleys 49 are mounted upon aligned axes between the frame sides 19 and 20 of each frame member 17 closely adjacent to the cross-brace 18. A second pair of pulleys 50 are mounted on aligned axes between the frame members 19 and 20 of each frame member 17 near the cross-brace 28. A third pair of pulleys 51 are mounted at the ends of the frame members 14 at the extremity thereof most closely adjacent the cross-brace 15. As indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, an additional pair of pulleys 52 are supported on vertical axes near the opposite ends of the frame members 14, or near the cross-brace 16. A winch 53 is slidably supported upon the cross-brace 16 and the winch 53 includes a pair of drums 54 and 55 for accommodating the ends of two cables. Alternatively, a single cable may be employed which is anchored near its center to the winch drums. The winch drums are operated by means of a crank 56, and a suitable ratchet means 57 is provided for preventing accidental unwinding of the cable from the cable drums.

With reference now to FIGURE 12 of the drawings, it will be noted that the cable ends 59 of the cables 60 and 61 are anchored to the arms 30 near the outer extremity of these arms. Each cable 60 and 61 extends over the pulleys 49, lengthwise of the frames 17 to extend about the pulleys 50 at the opposite ends thereof, back longitudinally of the frames 17 to extend over the pulleys 51 at the end of the frame members 30, and longitudinally of the frame sides 14 to extend about the pulleys 52 and to the winch 53. FIGURE 11 of the drawings illustrates the general arrangement of parts when the boat C is clamped to the arms 30 and the boat is in readiness to be lifted onto the top of the car B.

Operation of the winch 53 acts to pivot the boat C in the direction of the arrow 58, swinging the edge of the boat which is most remote from the car B upwardly until the boat has pivoted somewhat more than ninety degrees and rests against the frames 17 which are in inclined position. It will be understood that as soon as the center of gravity of the boat C and the arms 17 passes the pivots 31 connecting the arms to the movable frames 17, the weight of the boat is directed against the frames 17. FIGURE 13 of the drawings shows the boat C and the arms 30 in an upwardly and outwardly inclined position, and moving in the direction of the arrow 62 in this figure.

When the arms 30 are drawn into contact with the frames 17, further operation of the winch 53 acts to move the lower inclined ends of the frames 17 upwardly until the center of gravity of the boat C, the arms 30, and the frames 17 pass the centers of the rollers 22 on which the frame is riding. During the upward movement of the frames 17 from the position indicated in FIGURE 13 of the drawings, tends to tilt the frames somewhat toward horizontal position, due to the shock cords 63 which connect the fixed frame members 14 to the top or upper ends of the frames 17. The main purpose of the shock cords 63 is to limit pivotal movement of the frames 17 relative to the fixed frame 13 when the boat is unloaded. However, the length of these shock cords 63 is such that the upper ends of the frame members are tilted slightly toward horizontal position as the frames 17 are pulled upwardly.

When the boat C, together with the arms 30 and frames 17 reach the position indicated in FIGURE 15 of the drawings, further upward movement of the frame 17 causes the boat C, together with the arms 30 and frames 17 to tilt into a horizontal position indicated in FIGURE 17 of the drawings. This swinging movement takes place in the direction of the arrow 64 in FIGURE 15. After the boat reaches the position indicated in FIG- URE 17 of the drawings, further operation of the winch 53 draws the boat in the direction of the arrow 69'until the boat and its supporting frame and arms are centered upon the vehicle B.

The unloading of the boat from the top of the vehicle is more or less a reversal of the process described. However, for the purpose of simplicity of operation, portions of the operation are accomplished manually in order to avoid the necessity of a duplication of cables. Normally, the winch 53 is unwound or the ratchet is released, and the frames 17 are pushed or pulled laterally until they are in the position indicated in FIGURE 17. A slight further movement of the frames permit the boat to tilt down into the position indicated in FIGURE 15. The shock cords 63 limit the tilting of the frames 17.

The winch 53 is then used to lower the frame members 17 until the frames are in their lowermost position. Further unwinding of the winch 53 permits the boat C to swing with the arms 30 about the pivots 31 until the boat is resting upon the ground or above the water. The brackets holding the arms 30 to the boat are then released and the boat is in readiness for use.

In certain instances between the time the arms 30 are resting against the frames 17 and the time in which the boat is in a horizontal position, either during the raising or the lowering operation, the tension upon the cables 60 and 61 may vary slightly due to the manner in which the cable wraps about the two drums or due to the fact that the surface of the ground on which the boat is deposited is not level with the car. As soon as the pull on one cable slightly exceeds the pull upon the other, the winch 53 slides longitudinally of the frame member 16 to equalize the tension on the two cables. It will be understood that this sliding movement of the winch 53 is relatively slight. However the movement of the winch is suflicient to maintain the tension on both cables equal or substantially so, and this adjustment of the position of the winch prevents all of the weight of the boat from being borne by a single cable during either the winding or unwinding of the winch.

I claim:

1. A boat loader including:

a fixed frame adapted for mounting on the top of a vehicle,

a movable frame supported by said fixed frame and slidable in a direction lateral of said fixed frame,

means tiltable supporting said movable frame at one side of said fixed frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis from a horizontal position overlying such fixed frame to a position outwardly and downwardly inclined from said one side of said fixed frame,

arm means pivotally connected to said movable frame at the end thereof which is lowermost in inclined position of said movable frame, said arm means being of sufiicient length to extend entirely across the boat,

attaching means on said arm means designed for attachment to both of the opposite gunwales of a boat, and

cable means attached to said arm means for pivoting said arm means relative to said movable frame and for moving said movable frame relative to said fixed frame.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including shock cords connecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to limit pivotal movement of said movable frame.

3. A boat loader for loading a boat on the top of an automobile, the loader including:

a fixed frame,

means for securing said fixed frame on an automobile top with the sides of the frame above, and parallel to, the sides of the automobile,

a movable frame slidably and pivotally supported by said fixed frame for movement laterally of the sides of the fixed frame,

a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end to one side of said movable frame,

means on said arms designed for attachment to the gunwales of a boat,

said arms being swingable from a position resting against said movable frame to a horizontal position, and

cable means extending from the free ends of said arms to pulleys on the side of said movable frame opposite that to which said arms are pivoted, then extending across the movable frame to pulleys on said one side thereof, then about pulleys on the adjoining side of said fixed frame, then about pulleys on the other side of said fixed frame, and to winch means.

4. The structure of claim 3 and including means for equalizing tension on said cable means.

5. The structure of claim 3 and in which said winch means is slidable on said fixed frame to equalize tension on said cable means.

6. The structure of claim 3 and including shock cord means limiting pivotal movement of said movable frame relative to said fixed frame.

7. The structure of claim 3 and in. which said fixed frame includes roller means at one side thereof over which said movable frame moves and about which said movable frame pivots.

8. The structure of claim 3 and in which said movable frame includes two parallel frame members, each frame member including a pair of members secured in parallel relation, and in which said fixed frame supports two pairs of rollers on aligned axes on one side of said fixed frame said rollers slidably supporting said frame members and said frame members pivoting about said rollers.

9. The structure of claim 8 and including shock cords for limiting relative pivoted movement between said fixed frame and said movable frame.

10. The structure of claim 8 and in which said fixed frame includes a pair of parallel frame members connected in spaced relation by right angular frame members and in which said rollers are supported on shafts on opposite sides of each of said last named frame members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 22442.1 

